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The Republican primary for Arizona governor hasn't lacked for controversy, drama and the occasional goofiness (the Patton Line?). But it has lacked a truly independent polling outfit tracking the race.

The latest tracking numbers, just four days before the primary, show Doug Ducey widening his lead.

The association has not taken sides, but Ducey allies have ties to the organization. Tucson auto dealer Jim Click, for example, is a major Ducey supporter.

UPDATE 6:29 p.m. Friday: The auto dealers association has now publicly taken sides. It filed a campaign finance report Friday showing it spent $6,000 on radio ads supporting Ducey.

One more caveat: While the polling methods have been challenged, none of Ducey's opponents have produced polling to contradict the AADA results.

Here is the polling memo:

Date: August 22, 2014

RE: Polling Update of Arizona Statewide Republican Primary

This week, beginning Sunday and running through Thursday night the tracking polling again continued. The results below reflect only the past three nights, as is customary for such tracking (Tuesday-Thursday night). These 1,281 likely Republican voters were surveyed by Magellan Strategies. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.74% at the 95% confidence interval. The tracking polling will conclude on Monday night.

This memo serves as an update to the one provided earlier this week that contained results from Sunday through Tuesday nights. Keep in mind surveys reflect a snapshot in time and as public opinion has ebbed and flowed in each of these races the final vote total will likely have some variation from the final polling.

GOVERNOR'S RACE (Through 8/22)

Doug Ducey: 32%

Scott Smith: 21%

Christine Jones: 18%

Ken Bennett: 12%

Andrew Thomas: 8%

Frank Riggs: 2%

Undecided: 7%

GOVERNOR'S RACE (Through 8/19)

Doug Ducey: 31%

Scott Smith: 22%

Christine Jones: 17%

Ken Bennett: 12%

Andrew Thomas: 8%

Frank Riggs: 3%

Undecided: 7%

GOVERNOR'S RACE (Through 8/15)

Doug Ducey: 31%

Scott Smith: 23%

Christine Jones: 16%

Ken Bennett: 10%

Andrew Thomas: 7%

Frank Riggs: 3%

Undecided: 10%

GOVERNOR'S RACE (Through 8/7)

Doug Ducey: 29%

Scott Smith: 22%

Christine Jones: 13%

Ken Bennett: 11%

Andrew Thomas: 9%

Frank Riggs: 4%

Undecided: 12%

GOVERNOR'S RACE (Through 7/31)

Doug Ducey: 23%

Scott Smith: 21%

Christine Jones: 13%

Ken Bennett: 12%

Andrew Thomas: 10%

Frank Riggs: 5%

Undecided: 16%

Ducey has increased his lead again. As was the case earlier this week Ducey continues to enjoy the highest name identification among the Republican candidates, with substantially improved favorability ratings seen over the past two weeks.

Ducey's lead among Republican voters only remains substantial. It is now 14.6% over Smith who is now just a fraction of a percentage point ahead of Jones among Republicans only. While Ducey is performing well within Maricopa County his support beyond is particularly impressive.

Interestingly, the joint effort by Christine Jones and Scott Smith to create a wedge with women voters because of Ducey's membership at Whisper Rock Country Club and the Phoenix Thunderbirds has not succeeded. Ducey is supported by nearly the same percentage of women as men, like Smith and Jones.

Previous samples included a number of independents (21% for Tracking Poll #1 and 18% for Tracking Poll #2) that is likely too high for the August 26th primary based on previous primaries and ballots requested this year. This sample again includes 14% of independents, more in line with projections and current ballot returns but still considerably higher than the independent vote in 2010 and 2012. Smith continues to enjoy a lead among independents (36%-22% over Ducey). Smith has seen his favorability ratings wither of late, likely due to recent attacks. His favorable/unfavorable rating now stands at 37/27.

SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE

As can be seen below this race has seen the most movement in previous weeks but not of late.

THROUGH 7/31:

Michele Reagan: 31%

Wil Cardon: 19%

Justin Pierce: 18%

Undecided: 32%

THROUGH 8/7:

Michele Reagan: 27%

Justin Pierce: 27%

Wil Cardon: 16%

THROUGH 8/15:

Michele Reagan: 33%

Justin Pierce: 23%

Wil Cardon: 17%

THROUGH 8/19:

Michele Reagan: 33%

Justine Pierce: 26%

Wil Cardon: 18%

THROUGH 8/22:

Michele Reagan: 33%

Justine Pierce: 27%

Wil Cardon: 18%

Reagan has a very narrow lead among Republican voters only but is up by a whopping 31% among independents. So, this is clearly a race where independent turnout could be determinative.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE

THROUGH 7/31:

Mark Brnovich: 42%

Tom Horne: 35%

THROUGH 8/7:

Mark Brnovich: 43%

Tom Horne: 37%

THROUGH 8/15:

Mark Brnovich: 47%

Tom Horne: 34%

THROUGH 8/19:

Mark Brnovich: 48%

Tom Horne: 38%

THROUGH 8/22:

Mark Brnovich: 47%

Tom Horne: 40%

Brnovich holds a small 4-point lead among Republicans but a 28% one among independents.

TREASURER'S RACE

This race remains tight as it has from the outset. DeWit has opened a lead among Republicans outside the margin of error with Hallman having a sizable advantage among independents. DeWit is up among younger voters while Hallman wins older voters.